Agriculture Ministry will shower seeds for reforestation

BANGKOK, July 6 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will shower seeds from planes in catchment areas for the sake of reforestation. The project will be officially launched in Nakhon Ratchasima province on July 13. Lertviroj Kowattana, deputy permanent secretary for agriculture, said the project was aimed at increasing humidity in forested areas and raising public awareness of the importance of catchment areas. It was also intended to follow the sustainable development guidelines of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and celebrate His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s birthday on July 28. Surasee Kittimonthol, director-general of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, said seeds of ten plants would be showered, including pink cassia, Siamese cassia, Indian walnut, golden shower tree, Sathon, bamboo, Siamese rosewood, padauk, and catechu. Actually he said the first phase of the project already started in April. It concerns the preparation of seeds which was set to end in July. The second phase is the showering of the seeds set between July and September. The last phase will deal with project evaluation, set in August and September. The official launch ceremony of the project was planned at the Lam Takhong dam in Nakhon Ratchasima province on July 13. (END)